Operating device for headlights.



*UNrrED STATES PATENT SCEEICE.

GEORGE E. GARDNER AND FREDERICK M. EURRER, or HAVERHILL. MASSACHUSETTS.

OPERATING DEVICE FOR HEADLIGHTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application iiled February 24,1906. Serial No. 302,711.

Patented Aug'. 7, 1906.

- controlling the direction in whic the light shall be thrown from the headlight of an electric car or other vehicle, and hasfor its object to produce an improved form of foot-operatdevice for such apparatus which will enin ale the light to be thrown in different directions by merely tipping the foot or swinging it on the heel as a pivot.

For an understanding of our invention reference is made to the accompanying drawin s, in which- `i ure 1 is a front elevation of a sec-tion of the ashboard of a car provided with a device made according to our invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the lantern-holder. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in section, on line 6 6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the lower lantern-engaging bracket. Fig. 8 is a detail front view of the lower base-bracket. Fig. 9 is a central sectional view on line 9 9 of Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a top View of a portion of the upper base-bracket.'

The dashboard a of the car is provided with the usual hanger-bar b, which is connected thereto at each end and extends parallel therewith at a short distance therefrom.

The headlight or lantern holding devices illustrated comprise an upper vbase-bracket c,

provided with a-V pair of hooks c on its rear side, similarlyarranged to the Vhanger-hooks on an ordinary car-lantern and adapted to engage the hanger-bar b, so that said bracket may be hung on the bar b in the same manner as the lantern. Said base-bracket c is provided with a centrally-disposed forwardlyextending projection c2, into the under side of which a vertically-disposed tube d is threaded. Said tube d is also threaded at its lower end into a base-bracket e, said bracket being provided with a pair of depending ears e', be-

tween which a vertical slot is formed adapted to receive a stud f, fixed in the dashboard a. A shaft g is journaled in the dashboarda and on the floor a of the car in a horizontal position,

Said. treadle is of approximately crescent shape or is transversely o r horizontally curved, so that it is concave at its rear edge, and it is also longitudinally or vertica ly curved, so that it is concaved on its upper and the rear end of said shaft is rigidlyY connected to a treadle 7b at the middle thereof..

side, said upper side constituting a foot-engaging face, and it is convex on its lower side, so as not to interfere with the oscillation of the shaft g within certain limits. Said upper side or foot-engaging face of said treadle is provided with al series of corrugations or ribs which are curved horizontally from the I same center as the curve of the front and rear edges of the treadle, said center :bein approximately in the line of said shaft an at a short distance in the rear of the rear end thereof. Said face' is also inclined. :downwardly and rearwardly, the inclination being such that the motorman may convenientl place the fore part of his shoe on the tread e,-w1th his heel resting on the iloor. With this arrangementv he may then swin his fo ot 1n opposite directions, with his hee as a pivot, and easily tilt the treadle and turn'shaft g 1n opposite directions as he moves the fore part of his foot from one side to the other of the center line thereof. The. treadle may also be easily tilted to some extent by placing the gitudinally-extending corrugations h permit 'the shoe of the .operator to slide easily over the treadle.

An arm i is rigidly connected to the front end of the rod g closely adjacent the front side of the dashboard and extends vertically when the treadle 7L is in its middle positionthat is, when both 'end portions thereof are elevatedto the same extent. An arm k is rigidly connected to the arm i and extends at rlght angles thereto and forwardly in an IOO - Oblique direction with reference to the front of the car when the arm fi, is in the vertical pof sition. A rod m passes through the tube d and base-brackets c and e, and an larrn n is'.

rigidly connected to the lower vend thereof, said arm n normally extending forwardly vat l right angles ,to the dashboard and downwardly, as shown i-n Figs. 2 and 3. A link., ,o is' pivotally connected to the end of the ar'lh k and is provided with 'a ,hotokfshaped end portion of,v which is adapted] o pass through an aperture n', formed in the front end of the y arm n. A lantern-bracket p is provided with isuitable form, having hooks g on its back a rearWardly-projectin collar-piece p,.into

.which the upper end o rodm is fitted, said .rod'being made square at its upper end, so

that neither can` turn with relation t9 the Y' other, a set-screw or other suitable means for forming a suitable connection therebetween being rovided. Said bracket p is provided With at-faced horizontal arms p2, which ex-V tend in opposite directions from the middle thereof, said arms being provided with forwardly-projecting fingers p3 at their ends, as shown in Fig. 4. A headlight-lantern g of side, is adapted to be hung upon said arms p2 between ngers p3, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, said fingers p3 beingada ted to engage the sides of the lantern to ho d the same in position'. The upper side of the base-piece c .is provided with a V-shaped groove c3, which extends transversely thereof and perpendicularly to the front of the car, the line ofthe bottom of' said 4groove intersecting the axis of rod m. The -under side of the base portion p2 of the lantern-bracket p is provided with a V-shaped tooth p, which is normally adapted to fit closely in the groove c3 when its underside is resting on the upper side of f the base-bracket e and the parts are in their f 'middle or normal position.

A lantern-holding bracket 1 is swiveled on the tube d and is adapted to rest on the upper side of bracket e, said bracket being provided with horizons tal arms r', having forwardly-projecting fingers r2 at their ends, adapted' to engage the sides of the lantern and hold it from swinging on its hooks g. A sprin s is inter osed between the under sides o the brac et e and thevarm n an'd acts normally to hold the tooth p* in the notch, c".

The` operation is asfollows: When it is de- This -will cau'se l ride up on the corresponding side of the notch c3, lifting the lantern and rod m slightly and compressing the spring s, as shown in Fig. 6. As soon as the pressure on the treadle is rey lieved the 'force of gravityand the spring s will immediately cause the lantern to be returned to its middle position. The sanie operation takes place when the opposite end of the treadle is depressed, except that the parts will be swung to the right, as will be obvious. By this means the motorman may Without lifting his heel fromthe floor and by simply swinging or tilting the fore part of his foot, with his heel as -a pivot, direct the rays of light in either direction, the lantern autom-ate ically returning to the middle position when the pressure on either armfof the treadle is grelieved.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Lets ters Patent, is- 4 1. In combination with a shaft, a horizontally-extending support on which said shaft is rotatably mounted, and which extends be# yond the end of said shaft, a treadle mounted on said shaft at its end and comprising a pair of' ri idly-connected arms extending transversey of the shaft at each sidethereof and disposed to be simultaneously engaged by the fore part of the foot while the heel part is resting on said support, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a shaft7 a horizontally-extending support on which said shaft is roatably mounted, and which extends beL yon the end of said shaft, a treadle mounted on said shaft at its end and comprising a pair of rigidly-connected arms extending transversely of the shaft at each side thereof and having a continuous foot-engaging face dis posed to be simultaneously engaged by the fore part of the foot at each side of theshaft While the heel part resting on said support, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a shaft, a treadle connected thereto having a concave, foot-engaging face extending at each side of said shaft, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a shaft, a treadl'e/ connected thereto having a longitudinally...115 and transversely curved foot-engaging face extendin at each side of said shaft, substantially as escribed.

5. In combfnat'ion with a shaft a lon itudinally-curved treadle connected to said s aft and extendin transversel vat each side thereof, substantia ly as descri 'ed.

6. In combination-.With a support, a shaft rotatably mountedthereon, and a treadle connected to said shaft and extending trans` versely 'at each side thereof and obli uely with relation to said support, substantia ly as described.

7. In combination with a horizontally-ex- IOO of said shaft and having a foot-engaging face on its u per side extending at each side of said sha 't, the opposite edge of said face from said shaft being inwardly curved on a center located in the line of said shaft, substantially as described.

8. In combinationwitn a horizontally-extending shaft, a treadle connected to one end of said shaft and havinga concaved foot-en'- gaging face on its upper side lextending at each side of said shaft, the opposite edge ,of said face from said shaft being inwardly curved the centers of the curves of said face and its rear edge l ing approximately inthe vertical plane of the axis of said shaft, substantially as described.

9: In combination with a shaft, a treadle connected thereto extending on opposite sides of said shaft and having a correspondingly-extending foot-engaging'face, said face having a series of :corrugatlons extending transversely of the shaft, substantially as described.

10. In combination with a shaft, a treadle to which said shaft is connectedI said treadle extending on opposite sides of said shaft, and having a Correspondingly-extending vfoot-engaging face7 said face having a series of curved corrugations, the ap roxirnate center of which is in the line of the s aft at a distance from the point at which thetreadle is connected thereto, substantially as described.

1 1. Inl combination with a su port, a shaft -rotatably mounted thereon, an a treadle for oscillatingl said shaft connected to the rear end and extending transversely at each side thereof, said treadle having a correspondingly-extending footeengaging. face inclined downwardly from ront'to rear, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our 

